Properties of the ideal therapeutic radiopharmaceutical
Effective half-life
Therapeutic effects are generally desired relatively quickly following radionuclide therapy; therefore, the effective half-life should ideally be measured in hours or days as opposed to longer time units. Good examples of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals with an ideal teff include I-131 sodium iodide for treatment of hyperthyroidism (teff is 6 days) and Ho-166 FHMA for intraarticular radiation synovectomy (teff is 1.2 days).
Stephen Karesh, PhD. |
Last Updated: August 14, 1996 |